Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by the brilliant mind that is J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers

A/N: This chapter goes out to CharlotteBlackwood, whose not just an immensely talented writer, but also a considerate reviewer! Thanks for all the feedback!

Chapter 37

Ky's POV

My scalp tingled as my hair was brushed, I could feel Minnie's long fingers poke at my neck as she plaited my hair into an elaborate mass of twists and turns that lay on my neck indolently. I watched her in the reflection of the mirror, her apple green eyes taking in each strand methodically, her attention to the simple task showing in the deep frown on her forehead, camouflaged in the fine wrinkles that speckled her face. Her black hair, littered with long strands of grey which stood bright in contrast, hung off her shoulders freely, out of its usual bun. She reached the end of the plait, knotting it with a rubber band and glancing up to look at me in the gold gilded vanity mirror that sat at the corner of her bedroom. Both of us stared into the mirror, none of us registered the others face, lost in thoughts of earlier that day.

I sat behind Silvain and watched as his shoulders shook and my chest constricted. There was something distinctly more painful in watching a man shed tears. A hand squeezed mine and I returned the motion, Nessie had not been coping well with this loss. She felt responsible, to which I and many others, told her that she was not. That they all knew what they were getting into, and that it would be a dishonour to his memory to riddle the life he had sacrificed his own for in guilt.

Selina had yet to shed a tear publically, her brother sobbed beside her, holding her left hand whilst her right was enveloped in Fred's, the only display of grief she displayed was the way she laid her head upon the redhead's shoulder, as if she was completely exhausted and expunged of all emotion, her black eyes empty yet the dryness in her complexion a sure sign that she had shed enough tears privately.

It had been a week, a week of searching, of hoping that Baron Sabre could have been found. Until yesterday brought news that even though the body was not found, he had indeed been murdered by the death eaters that were sent for Nessie. It seems that Vez was guarding Nessie for most of her time in New York, Baron had stopped by to relay information when Vez had sensed the wards breaking at Mi's home. He left, Baron remained...

Nessie said it all happened so quickly, they were at least five of them, Baron had pushed her into the safe room and placed a silencing charm on her. It seemed they expected that though, and one of them was in the safe room. Before she could even react she was stunned.

When she eventually came to she was in a rank smelling basement, she could hear voices from upstairs. Men. They were talking about ransoming something. They were debating just how much they should aim for. One of them feared that their superiors would be angry when they found that they had taken the woman for themselves. The other voices didn't seem to mind, saying that the galleons they would get would more than make up for it

She had then realised that she was not alone. That two masked death eaters lay unconscious, bound next to her. It seemed, from the voices they were three, had turned on these two and were going to ransom her off.

Just then there was the sound of a door creaking open, all the while the voices upstairs argued, and soon she saw Baron's face glow at her as he held a finger up to his lips to remind her to remain silent. He bent to untie her, but in his eagerness to set her free he didn't see the death eater on the right of her regain consciousness.

She didn't know what had happened afterwards, only that when she came to again she was completely alone in the basement. Baron was gone. The two death eaters were gone. And she was helpless.

She didn't want to explain what happened in detail afterwards, but I could tell from the bruise on her cheeks and the way she had limped in that they were not at all against damaging the goods they were trying to sell off. She insisted that it was nothing Madam Pomfrey could not heal, and that nothing nefarious had happened... one wanted to... but before they could even debate the fact the house they were in shook from floorboard to the rooftop.

She said it was over in seconds, not even. Nonno had shown up, his eyes full of fire and he actually never used the killing curse, that his intention was to take them alive, but suddenly the three death eaters slit their own throats and fell to the floor... eyes staring through the mask glassy and eerily...

She lay her soft head on my shoulder and I slung an arm awkwardly around her, she was much too tall, Fleur sat on her other side, giving her concerned looks. After finding that Baron was indeed dead, Minnie had arranged a wake for him, thinking it was needed to get his children some closure even if they could not bid his body farewell, they could bid his soul to rest in peace. Nonno's office was littered with a few chairs, they were very few people in attendance. Just a few Order members... only Bill and Fred had come from the Burrow, it wasn't the best of times to be leaving headquarters empty.

Gabrielle Sabre, stricken by grief had taken ill at the loss of her great grandson, she was in her home in France. I glanced in the corner were Vez was in deep conversation with Len, his amber eyes found mine, a sombre aura emanating from him even though he didn't shed a tear at the loss of his relative.

Linus and Nonno stood at the fireplace, not speaking much, both looking into the scarlet embers, holding frighteningly identical expressions. Minnie took her seat next to my own and I leaned onto her... was this to be the first wake of many we were to attend...

I had been leaning on the hand she had rested on my left shoulder, staring at the reflective surface transfixed. I shivered involuntarily as my overactive imagination saw a large cloaked faceless being hover at the back of the room, a large and clichéd sickle in its left hand... Silvain and Selina had lost a father... Mi had been just as close to losing her parents... I had come so close to losing Nessie... I felt like Death shadowed me... inching closer and closer... I passed my lips over Minnie's frail hand feeling older than my sixteen years... was this life from here on?

She petted my head, turning away from the mirror and walking to her desk, sitting down with a long sigh. It had been a terribly long week of sitting and waiting for news, Sev hadn't returned from whatever he had been doing, Linus and Len returned to their mission... Nessie left for the Burrow, where she could be distracted by the comings and goings of life alongside Fleur and Tonks, the latter who should be back after Linus and Len relieve her from helping Remus. Nonno was gone... I don't even know where. Mi was still with her parents, they had already started the rebuilding of her house, aided by magic of course and overseen by Vez. It turns out that room at the Corinthia is booked all year round as a precautionary measure and Aunt Jean and Uncle John can remain there until their house is ready.

I fingered the dark band at my wrist... the dragonstone which sat lightly on my skin, much lighter than when I had first received it from Nonno considering half of it... half of it I had given away. I sighed, batting away the thoughts and looking up at Minnie has she scribbled on the parchment on her desk.

"Minnie Zia." She looked up, her dark brows furrowed slightly at the tone of voice I was using. She placed her quill back in its ink pot and turned to face me, flickers of light reflecting on her tartan dressing gown from the nearby fire. I fiddled with the ruby encrusted silver brush that Minnie had told me was a wedding gift from her Elphin. My fingers passed over their names, engraved on the back of it, "Do you ever regret choosing magic?"

I didn't look up, a few loose strands fell away from my plait and tickled my cheek as I sat engrossed in the brush, I could feel her gaze on me though. "I...I don't regret choosing magic. I think what I regret is not giving Dougal the opportunity to prove me wrong. I assumed he would be just like my father, that he would accept me but not my magic... I never gave him the chance to make that decision for himself."

I looked up as she stared down at her lap, a small smile on her face, "Sometimes I imagine what it would have been like... I see Molly and her brood and... so many others over the years... looking at those poor children crying over their father," The smile dropped instantly from her face, "It's scary to think that one day you could just...stop existing... but it's oddly comforting..." She shook her head, her eyes closed, "To know that there are these fragments of you, these little creatures that grow tall and strong but all the while keeping the little fragment that is you in them... passing it on... be it your eyes or your hair colour... some part of you just lives forever."

She opened her eyes to find me kneeling before her, my head in her lap, my heart aching for the pain that was trembling before her green eyes, "I may not look like you Minnie Zia, but there will always be a bit of you in me... I'll carry it with me wherever I go, it's the strongest, fiercest, bravest part of me, and in lots of ways it's the best part of me. I love it."

I felt her fingers on my head, "I love you too Bane. In this world where I have lost so very much when I was young, I have gained so much in my latter years I find myself quite at peace with life. It is a feeling that is underrated I tell you Bane, much much too underrated."

I sat in silence for a bit, dosing slightly as she petted my hair. Minnie was in many ways, the only mother I ever knew. There was always this tingly feeling that bristled through me when I sat with her that made me feel more protected than if a thousand knights stood before me.

"Do you still think of Dougal?"

Silence befell us but she continued stroking my hair, I didn't want to upset her... I just wanted to know... how long it takes... to forget... if forgetting was even possible.

"Every day." I let my eyes close, comfortable beyond words at my position, "Sometimes more often than I like to admit or fear it is sane. These days though, I find my mind quite distracted and don't often dwell on the past." She was quiet for a few moments and I thought I might just fall asleep right there. "Tell me Bane, was it entirely unforgivable what Mr Potter had done?"

That woke me up. I glanced at the floor, was I that obvious? Was I so long gone that even months after the break up my mind was still plagued by him. That the whole while, the whole while I sat and waited for Nessie... all I wanted was him. I cleared my throat however, straightening up from the floor and heading back to the vanity.

"Your sources are sourly poor Minnie Zia, you must know that Harry is with Ginny." My throat burned as I said the words but I was happy to note that my voice didn't crack once at my announcement.

"Yes, I have heard. But need I remind you Bane that I am a widow of Elphinstone Urquhuart, yet it is Dougal McGregor who I think of every night." I looked down at the shiny gold surface, I didn't want to do this. I was tired of doing this. I felt fingers on my shoulders and I looked up at Minnie, she was smiling down at me, her stern features held in guilt at having reminded me of the sting of heart break.

"I'm sorry Bane. I just don't want you to end up with any regrets."

I rolled my eyes, swallowing the tears, "Believe me, I'm not going to be the one with the regrets."

I obviously wasn't as convincing as she frowned down at me. Her eyes lit up and I could see the vestiges of an idea in the green orbs. She turned and walked to her desk, pulling a drawer open and taking out a small box, "I've been meaning to show you these but with the state of affairs at the moment I never found the right time."

I walked to the bed which she sat on, already feeling better at the wide smile on her face. "What is it?" I was easily distracted by the flat box which I am sure was her intention.

She popped the lid and smiled down at the first picture, it was her Wedding Day. I picked the greying photo up delicately and looked at the smiling raven haired woman in the photo who was laughing at me, Elphin instead, clad in green dress robes was staring down at her in absolute amazement. I smiled, Minnie was so young... I ran a finger across the parchment as if to feel the softness of youth that was shining in her face. Even though it was the same Wedding dress that Nessie used, except for a few alterations, it looked completely different. Nessie and Minnie were both tall and slender, but Nessie's light hair made her look saintly whilst Minnie's dark bun made her look regal, a queen to Nessie's angel.

"This is my first day teaching." My smile widened when I saw the picture of Minnie and Nonno, side by side, Nonno with his auburn hair, lighter than Linus' yet the eyes, the cheek bone structure, even the slightly pointy ears was identical to my oldest brother. I laughed as Fil Zio appeared and disappeared in the bottom of the photo as I can only assume he was standing on his toes to get into the shot and falling back onto the balls of his feet after giving up on the attempt.

There was a muggle photo of what I assumed was Dougal McGregor that Minnie had spent much time looking at, it was black and white and I couldn't tell the colour of his hair or eyes but I could easily see why Minnie fell in love with him, the word strapping came to mind with his wide shoulders and his towering stature. Minnie must have spent much time looking down at boys at her height; it must have come at a relief to look up at someone for a change. I fiddled through the box as she continued staring at Dougal, tossing aside a few staff photos until a familiar face caught my eye.

I looked down at the picture, utterly perplexed. I picked it up and I was definitely seeing right, she maybe a good few years younger in this picture, but as if to reinstate the inkling I had I could see the busy streets of New York in the background.

"Minnie? Why do you have a picture of Mary in here?"

Her eyes snapped away from Dougal's instantly and I saw her hand tremble as if she wanted to snatch the photo from me. I frowned at her, she had practically poured her deepest secrets out to me in the last few minutes, why was this such a hard question?

Somewhere in the back of my mind Minnie's voice echoed, "I kept watch over my nieces and nephews from afar, Robert didn't want me to be a part of their lives, not even on his death bed but it didn't make me love these children I never got the chance to meet any less. My eldest niece Mary had a baby few months ago."

"Mary... Mary is... Mary is your Mary!" I gasped out, feeling like slapping myself. How did I not see it! The black hair, the green eyes, she even gave that 'not to be crossed' aura that Minnie gave off. She still hadn't responded, closing the box and shrugging her shoulders.

"Small world isn't it?"

"Small!" I gasped, "That's amazing! Don't you see! This is bloody brilliant! I mean, it's like Fate has brought her to you. You're not dishonouring your brother's wishes. You're-"

"Bane, do not get excited. There is no such thing as Fate. This is a mere coincidence."

"Coincidence." I gasped, why was she not ecstatic, "Your niece, who is a muggle, happens to adopt a kid who happens to be a wizard, not to mention she happens to be best friends with my brother's wife...I mean... Godric, Minnie Zia! I think all the forces of the universe are trying to bring you two together. This is insane." She looked down at me, a sad glint in her eye.

She rose, walking over to the desk and placing the box back.

"When are you going to tell her?"

She turned around, Minnie Zia disappearing to be replaced by Professor McGonagall. "Never. And you won't say a word either Bane."

"But why?" I stood, why would she deny herself this?

"My brother..." Her nose flared, "He moved halfway across the globe. He changed his name. He used dark magic to bind his children's magical ability; he didn't want them to ever know of this world. He didn't want them to ever know of me."

"He's dead Minnie! And he was wrong-"

"It's not about him being right or wrong Bane. Can you imagine what this would do to Mary. Her whole life would be a lie. She..." Minnie sighed and stepped forward, "She's a good person. She's such a good child." Minnie's voice shook with emotion, "She does not need this. It would benefit nobody to bring this up."

"You're her family." I muttered, imagine if Nonno had found out that Linus, Len and I existed and chose to not say anything because he didn't want to disrupt our lives. I would never have found Hogwarts. I would never have found Minnie and Sev or Mi and Ron and Teddy and Draco and... and Harry... none of them...

"And I will always be her family. Her knowledge of the fact, or the lack of it, doesn't change that. Sometimes it's wise to let things be as they are. Its scary looking in the mirror and not knowing who looks back, I don't wish that on Mary. She deserves better."

I didn't say anything, knowing that Minnie had long made up her mind; she must have known right from their first meeting and not said a word. Sat in on so many of my therapy sessions and never said a thing... Mary deserved to know the truth, but at the same time, it wasn't my place to tell her. I sighed, heading for the door; I stopped as I pulled it open,

"You know, you make a great mother. An aunt seems a much easier job to uphold, I don't want you to have any regrets Minnie Zia."

I didn't wait for a response and shut the door behind me, making my way back to Gryffindor Tower... and back to all the people that called it home...

Feedback will be appreciated as always.

Kalina